Author Archives

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Wishes in a Jar

This spring I set about doing a project involving Dandelions. This has me picking them before anyone could cut the lawns around me. I am pretty sure my neighborhood is used to me by now.

After I had the enough for what I was doing I took 4 or 5 dandelions and hung them upside down in my kitchen window area like I do Herbs in the summer. It was a nice little spring reminder whenever I look at them.

Dandelions are resilient survivors, thriving in challenging environments and proving difficult to eliminate. They grow rapidly, transitioning from bud to seed in just days, and can live for years. It is said m that one dandelion in the corner of your yard has seen everyone who passed by her before you, and will see those that pass by her long after you did. Their deep roots, which can extend 15 feet, enable them to flourish even in tough conditions. When divided, a single inch of root can produce a new plant, and their leaves can push through gravel and cement, allowing them to thrive in barren areas.

Due to their ability to grow in difficult conditions and their relentless nature, dandelions symbolize the strength to overcome challenges and hardships. Hope and Wishes: The blowing of a dandelion’s seeds is a universal activity associated with making wishes.

The ones I had hung in my window kind of opened up just a little to the wish stage, and then stayed like that for several weeks. They looked beautiful in this state. I kept thinking of them as suspended wishes. I decided I wanted theses to stay.

I affixed them to a cinnamon stick, added to a mason jar, tossed in more cinnamon and some dried sage leaves, lit the lid, and there I had it. A jar full of wishes.

My wishes however are not trapped in there. They are a symbol of what I hope and dream for. Lasting though adversity, growing where I am.

The Dandelion knows a lot about us, because it has seen a lot before us. Think of all the wishes and hopes just one dandelion hears and carries through the universe.

Think of what you hope for, think about your dreams. The next time you see a dandelion, tell her about it, and let her carry it to the stars.

If interested, here is a great article about the amazing health benefits associated with dandelions.

The Surprising benefits of eating dandelions.

Peace!

Cath

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Air Fryer – Kinda Sorta – Fajitas 

I am going to give you the recipes for three different things here. The other night I made what I am calling “Air Fryer – kinda sorta – Fajitas.” 

This was super easy, I think somewhat healthy, and it was I guess a form of a fajita.

For quite a while now, I have been making my own variations of spice blends. This way I am not buying packets with ingredients that I cannot pronounce.

Here is my Taco Seasoning recipe:

2 tbsp Chili powder

1 tbsp Cumin

1 tbsp Kocher salt

1/2 tbsp Black pepper

1/2 tbsp Smoked paprika (or regular paprika if you don’t have smoked)

1 tsp Dried oregano (or dried cilantro)

1 tsp Garlic powder

1/2 tsp Onion powder

1/8 tsp Cayenne pepper (or 1/4 tsp if you like spicy)

Mix all together until incorporated, add to a glass jar (mason) drop in a bay leaf, lid that jar, and this will last on the shelf a year.  Feel free to double this or triple.  This seasoning can be used in various recipes.  It is great to season a ground turkey burger with as an example.

Creamy Taco, Fajita, Sandwich Spread or Dipping Sauce: 

½ cup sour cream

½ cup mayo

2 Tbl the above Taco Seasoning

Kocsher Salt to Taste

Pepper to Taste

1 tbl cilantro.

Mix ingredients all together, and boom – you have a great sauce.  It is fantastic as a sandwich spread, chip dip, and it was fantastic on these kinda sorta fajitas below.

“Air Fryer – kinda sorta – Fajitas.” 

1 pound of boneless skinless chicken thighs, or the cut of chicken you choose

1 red bell pepper, cut into strips

1 red bell pepper, cut into strips

Half sweet onion, cut into strips

4 cloves garlic, minced

Olive oil

The above Taco Seasoning

Pinch Kosher Salt

Pinch Pepper

What to do:

Add chicken and veggies to bowl and combine.

Add olive oil to coat, mix to combine and coat.

Add the above Taco Seasoning, approximately 2 tbl, and combine to coat, add more if desired.

Preheat your air fryer to 400. 

Add all ingredients to the basket and fry air at 400 for 20 minutes, stirring halfway. 

(or until chicken is cooked through.  This will depend on what cut you choose as well)

You can serve this over rice, serve in taco shells, wraps, even over greens for a salad.

Top all with the sauce! 

I think we have to actively press forward to find our peace and our joy in moments like we are collectively experiencing.  I wish for you today that peace finds you and joy invades your spaces.

Peace to you !!

Cath

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Flower Moon

Monday May 12, 2025, brings to us the Full Flower Moon. She will be full in the sky reaching full illumination at 12:56 pm. Even though that is daylight hours she will still shine into the night sky, before this and after as well, with the New Moon on May 26th.

With the Harvest Moon being my favorite, this May moon is the most meaningful one to me.

This moon has particularly powerful feminine energy. Bringing forth intuition, cycles of life, and spiritual connection. It is often associated with emotions, the subconscious, and the ebb and flow of life’s experiences.

Every full moon invites us to Let go of what is no longer serving us, but this moon asks that we grow. That we surround ourselves with food for our souls. That we stay rooted in who we are. It also invites us to be compassionate and be that soul food for the ones we love.

Just like we plant a seed in the ground, water, feed, and nurture to flower –

we do for ourselves and those we encounter.

The appearance of flowers in abundance inspired the name for this Moon, a term used by Algonquin and Ojibwe peoples.

Similarly, the Cree names of Budding Moon and Leaf Budding Moon celebrate the awakening of plant life. Egg Laying Moon and Frog Moon are other Cree terms for this period. Moon of the Shedding Ponies is an Oglala term. Planting Moon (Dakota, Lakota) marks the time to plant seeds and start the year’s crops.

This is a good time to plant your garden if you have not already. It is also a good time to reflect on what is good. What will grow, and what will not. A time to consider what in your life feels abundant and what requires more attention to thrive.

When you see her, our Flower moon, take the time to pause and let yourself feel. Get outside, find some flowers, meditate, and most of all, enjoy.

Peace to you.

Cath

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Turning hurt to something Majestic.

Several years ago, I was part of an organization that held a yearly fundraising event that was just spectacular. The community looked forward to it, and when the current year’s event was complete, the planning for the next year’s event immediately began.  This was enormous work.

I was honored to be a part of this. We enjoyed the planning. It was fun, it was community, relationship building, and the good work.

Day of there was so much excitement and half the fun was the set up. The night went wonderfully.  There were speeches of thanks, and glowing complimenting of all involved.

I remember standing in a social circle talking and laughing and enjoying the music as everything began to wind down.  Goodbyes and more hugs and thank yous and see you next weeks.  I turned around to find most of the team was long gone.

The cleanup, at close to midnight, began with me and two others. They took all the accolades, applause, and awards with them. 

I often reflect on that night.  It is much like life.  There will be people who will leave for you a mess to clean up as they walk by smiling.

There will be no accountability either.  All you are left with is the hurt they caused, and only you will know how hard it was to clean that all up. You are tired, they will sleep.

There is a person in my life who recently caused harm to me, and as I dwell on this experience, I recalled the fundraising event and how it felt to be left with all that clean up.

 I watch as others around her, just absolutely love her. The applause and awards are all around her.  I joined in to that too though. I loved this person, but when I turned around, I saw the mess she left for me.  The mess of my crushed spirit.

 I am tired, she sleeps.

I think we learn from these things, and it may even be possible to be stronger after that.

Science tells us that when branches from a tree are cut, there is left a wound on the tree. Sometimes even a whole new branch will grow from the trimmed one, but you will always be able to see where the branch was originally cut.  The tree becomes healthier when it is trimmed. Stronger. Majestic – even while wounded.

We can turn around, and the mess is cleaned. We will rest.

Peace.

Cath

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Pink Moon

April’s full moon will peak on Sunday, April 13. It’s known as the Pink Moon and will be a “micro moon,” meaning it will appear slightly smaller than usual in the sky due to its distance from Earth.

While the term “Pink Moon” may evoke images of a beautifully rosy Moon, the truth is somewhat just as enchanting. The name actually originates from the early spring flowering of a wildflower found in eastern North America: Phlox subulata, commonly referred to as creeping phlox or moss phlox. This flower, often known as “moss pink,” typically reaches its peak bloom around the time of April’s full Moon.

April’s moon is a very important one.  Easter’s date is determined by the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox and the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere.

April’s full Moon names reflect the vibrant signs of spring!

The Farm’s Almanac shares with us these beautiful names.

The Breaking Ice Moon (Algonquin) and Moon When the Streams Are Again Navigable (Dakota) reference the melting ice and the increased mobility of early spring.

The Budding Moon of Plants and Shrubs (Tlingit) and Moon of the Red Grass Appearing (Oglala) highlight the plant growth about to take off.

Other names focus on the return of certain animals, like the Moon When the Ducks Come Back (Lakota), Moon When the Geese Lay Eggs (Dakota), and Frog Moon (Cree).

The Sucker Moon (Anishinaabe) marks the time to harvest sucker fish, which return to streams or shallow lakes to spawn.

Legend says this is when the fish come back from the spirit world to purify the waters and the creatures within them.

This name can also apply to the February Moon, honoring the sucker fish’s sacrifice to help the Anishinaabe survive the winter. 

I find myself thinking about how this will be a micro moon, appearing smaller, but only to our eyes. Much like us. We may believe we are small, and our impact is “micro.”  But just like this April Moon, the implications of who we are, who we touch, who we heal, and how we move and live and breathe upon this earth have meaning and importance that we may never know or understand fully. As we shine, just like this moon, an entire universe is illuminated.

As the gentle warmth of spring arrives, the pink moon invites you to welcome fresh possibilities, emotional development, and artistic expression. Much like blooming flowers, let this enchanting lunar phase inspire you to open your heart, embrace your vulnerabilities, and gracefully evolve into your most vibrant self.

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Rebel with Cause.

All throughout my life, I was told that I had a “Rebellious Spirit.” I was mainly told this by a chorus of Pastors, or self-proclaimed this that or that other. Even family. The problem was I was told this in a way that was not particularly complimentary.

That is what patriarchal systems that most of us were subject to in formative years does. It will attempt to distinguish your fire. We see the effects of this all through our society.

I can tell you at 57, do not allow that. Your rebellious spirit will serve you, allow it to!

Be wild. Be free. All of that is strength.

So many will tell you it is not, but it truly is. Let me tell you another thing, it is freedom.

True freedom comes when you step out of the grips of Patriarchy in all its forms.

Those who identity as female, do not step aside, we step over. We are the rebellion. We are free. Patriarchy does not like that, and we do not care.

“He drew a circle that shut me out-
Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.
But love and I had the wit to win:
We drew a circle and took him In!”
― Edwin Markham

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Let’s make Tea.

I have always been fascinated by Alice in Wonderland. Not so much because of Alice, but what she found there. Specifically the Mat Hatter.

The Mad Hatter could simply not understand why Alice did not understand anything. Quite annoyed with the very idea that she found him “Mad.” Listen Alice, all the best people are actually quite mad my dear. If you don’t have time for tea, the least she could do was make polite conversation.

There is nothing at all normal about our lives, but I am here to tell you that tea, is in fact, normal.

Let’s make a simple tea:

To a small pot of boiling water add the following:

The peel of an orange-any size will do, and please do eat the orange while you assemble the rest. Sliced Ginger. Cloves. A few Cinnamon Sticks, and an Anise Star. Bring to a good rolling boil, remove from heat, cover and let steep for 15 minutes. Strain and add to your perfect teacup, add a black tea bag and let steep to your liking. Add Honey to taste.

For perfect sense and clarity, the reasons for these ingredients are Orange brings happiness and light, Ginger gives balance and roots us in peace, cloves provide protection, cinnamon gives abundance in all things, our star Anise asks us for our intellect, and the black tea grounds us. Honey is the protector and provider.

I am here to tell you that you have time for tea.

Sit a

Sit a “spell” and have tea, we are all quite mad here. All the best people are.

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Walk

Years ago, I fell down my basement steps. I had my phone in my hand, texting, lost my footing, and down she went.  I ended up with my ankle broken in three places, surgery, pins and rods and a spring and summer that year of recovery.

Never a confident person on my feet.  I often fall up steps, never quite judged a door frame correctly, and often fall or trip over nothing.  When I do these things, I am usually quite mad at the door frame for being in the same place all the time and will look back at the nothing I tripped over in disgust.  This has me always walking with my head down, looking at my feet.  Watching where I am going, eyes out for obstacles or that nothing, knowing where I am going, yet not looking ahead. The treadmill is no different.  Head down and find it difficult to follow along on a video workout because – the look down.

Lately I have been looking at this differently.  Why am I doing this?  Watching every single step.  Sure, it MIGHT keep me from falling, I MIGHT avoid that crack or nothing and not trip. The thing is, I am not looking ahead.  I am not seeing where I am going, I just know where I am going. I am not looking around and seeing the things around me very often.

We have all seen and heard these things:

                Head up!  Eyes Forward! Shoulders Back!  Walk with Confidence!

I have begun to consciously walk with all those things above.  I know where I am going.  I know I am on the right path of this life.  There are going to be things that might trip me up or slow me down. There are doorways in life that I might not correctly judge and bump into them on the way out or in.  I might fall on my way up, but guess what?  It is still heading up.  I might be down, but in what way? How long?

We know what we are doing.  YOU know what you are doing.  I believe that every human knows what they are built for. There are things that get in the way.  Life happens and takes us off a path.  Sidelines us.  Might even stop us. We hurt sometimes. Maybe we hurt all the time. Life can cause deep wounds that will always be there. Where bandage can be in the press forward. The falling up. Even in the falling face down.

Remember that the nothings of life are there too, to trip is up.  Look at those with disgust and keep pressing forward. Eyes up, shoulders back, head up, WALK in confidence. 

Bump a few door frames and WALK THOUGH.

Peace to you.

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Don’t give it Air🫶

Don’t give it air.

I think we have to be aware of what we “give air” to. What is happening around us is only given life if we breathe it in. This can be tricky as those things that are happening around us are necessary to be aware and awake to. Information coming at us at fast and most times furious speed. How do we advocate if we do not address ?

So many of us are holding a light in the dark it seems. For some this looks like warning. For others it looks like teaching. Still others, it looks like anger. But for all it is the same thing. It’s our “Iceberg Dead Ahead!”moment. But the music is too loud, and no one is listening. We all know what happens after the iceberg.

The trees, gardens, and plants give us air. Food. Beauty.

As the wind blows, the seeds of these fall to even give more.

When they wither, those seeds are scattered to grow anew, and give us more. A cycle so perfect, no matter what we do, still continues.

Don’t give air to what harms. Give air to what grows and flourishes. Give air to what is good. Let your seeds fall to give more.

Give air to peace.

Peace to you.

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What seeds to start in January

I live in Zone 6b. (Didn’t that sound professional?? )

With the halfway point approaching between the Winter Equinox (Soltice) and the Spring Equinox, now is the perfect time to start some seeds and see where they take you. The spring equinox is the astronomical first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. The spring equinox is also known as the vernal equinox or Ostara.

Right now is the perfect time to begin to dream of fresh cut grass, dirt on you hands, and the growing season.

Sat, Feb 1, 2025 is that moment.

You are not limited to these seeds only! It is however a great starting point.

Peace to you !

Read a bit here

Favorite seeds